Effect of steroid hormone on rheumatic carditis.

One hundred and eleven patients with rheumatic carditis of the first attack were treated with steroid hormone. In the cases, in which the steroid hormone therapy started within 2 weeks from the onset of the disease, all except one did not reveal a residual valvular heart disease after 2 years from the treatment. It was suggested that early diagnosis and the earliest start of steroid hormone therapy with large dose on rheumatic carditis is necessary for the prevention against development of rheumatic heart disease. A therapeutic schedule for rheumatic fever is recommended.